Device for passive detection of events

Abstract

An event detection device consumes zero power until an alarming event takes place by taking; advantage of the phase transition of a PCM material (Phase Change Material) to monitor relevant physical/chemical events. If the PCM material is ion-conducting, the device comprises a liquid-activated battery, an ion-conducting PCM material (Phase Change Material), positioned in contact with the liquid-activated battery, and an electronics module, connected to the liquid-activated battery, that powers up with the battery. If the PCM material is a non ion-conducting PCM material, the device additionally comprises a ion- conducting liquid, and being the non ion-conducting PCM material placed as a barrier between the ion-conducting liquid and the liquid-activated battery.

1 . A non-active event detection device, that comprises:
 a support substrate,   a liquid-activated battery, linked to the support substrate, wherein the liquid-activated battery is a single use paper-battery,   an ion-conducting liquid,   a non ion-conducting phase change material, placed as a physical barrier between the ion-conducting liquid and the liquid-activated battery, that changes from solid to liquid when a physical or chemical environmental magnitude exceeds a threshold in intensity and/or duration, and   an electronics module, connected to the liquid-activated battery, that is powered up when the liquid-activated battery is activated.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device additionally comprises a container linked to the support substrate, for containing the ion-conducting liquid, being the non-ion conducting phase change material placed as a barrier separating the ion-conducting liquid from the liquid-activated battery. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the non-ion-conducting phase change material takes the form of microcapsules, which contain the ion-conducting liquid, and being the microcapsules in contact with the liquid-activated battery and/or inserted in the liquid-activated battery. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the non-ion-conducting phase change material takes the form of a porous substrate, wherein the ion-conducting liquid is inserted in the pores of the non-ion-conducting phase change, material, and being the ion-conducting phase change material placed in contact with the liquid-activated battery and/or inserted in the liquid-activated battery. 
     
     
         5 . A passive event detection device, that comprises:
 a support substrate,   a liquid-activated battery, linked to the support substrate, wherein the liquid-activated battery is a single use paper-battery,
 an ion-conducting phase change, that is ion-conducting in a liquid phase and non-ion-conducting in a solid phase, positioned in contact with the liquid-activated battery, changing the ion-conducting phase change material from solid to liquid when an environmental physical or chemical magnitude exceeds a threshold in intensity and/or duration, activating the liquid-activated battery, and 
   an electronics module, connected to the liquid-activated battery, that is powered up when the liquid-activated battery is activated.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the ion-conducting phase change material is placed outside the liquid-activated battery and in direct contact with the liquid-activated battery. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the ion-conducting phase change material is placed inside the liquid-activated battery and/or in direct contact with the liquid-activated battery. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electronics module additionally comprises an emitter that generates a signal when the electronics module is powered up. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the emitter produces a signal selected between a radiofrequency signal, a light, a sound and a vibration. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronics module additionally comprises one or more sensors that record a physical or chemical environmental magnitude when the electronics module is powered up. 
     
     
         11 . The device according of  claim 1 , wherein the electronics module additionally comprises a memory that records information when the electronics module is powered up. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electronics module additionally comprises one or more actuators that are activated when the electronics module is powered up. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is made out of a compostable material, and the electronics module comprises a printed antenna on the substrate, and a non-encapsulated chip connected to the antenna and the liquid-activated battery. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material is a material that changes from solid to liquid when a magnitude selected from physical parameters such as temperature, mechanical stress, hydrostatic pressure, electromagnetic field, electrical field, radiation, and radioactivity to chemical parameters such as gas composition, water absorption, and pH. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electronics module additionally comprises a geolocalizer that geolocalizes the device when the electronics module is powered up